Country Style Beef Stew

2-3 tbsp vegetable oil
2 lbs lean stewing beef
2 tsp salt
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 can condensed beef broth
3 1/4 cups water, divided
4 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium potatoes, cubed
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup frozen corn kernals
1/4 cup cornstarch

In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add beef and brown well on all sides. Add salt, pepper, bay leaf, and thyme, along with the condensed beef broth and 3 cups of water.

Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add vegetables; simmer for about 30 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender. Combine cornstarch and 1/4 cup water; stir into stew and let simmer until thickened.

Homemade Salsa

Homemade salsa, one of the best ways to use all those delicious veggies that have been growing in the garden all summer. I put 2 jalapeno peppers in, including seeds, hoping for a bit of zip, but the jalapenos were pretty mild. So this version isn't very hot, but the flavour is still great. I think next summer I'll have to grow my own hot peppers.

8 cups chopped tomatoes, peeled (about 1 ice cream pail whole tomatoes)
2 chopped green peppers
2-3 jalapeno peppers (or more if you like it HOT)
1 cup chopped onion
1 tsp crushed garlic
a couple sprigs of parsley, chopped
2 tbsp salt
3 tbsp sugar
3/4 cup vinegar

Combine all ingredients in large pot. Bring to a boil and boil for 20 minutes. Add one small tin of tomato paste. Mix together 4 tbsp cornstarch with 4 tbsp water. Add to salsa and cook five minutes. Put into jars and steam 10 minutes.

I used the oven canning method for my salsa. To do this, put the empty clean jars in the oven for 8-10 minutes at 275F. To sterilize the lids, put in a pot of water, bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. I try to time this so my salsa is ready when the jars have been in the oven for about 10 minutes. Carefully remove the jars from the oven, place on a tea towel and fill with salsa. Using tongs, remove the lids from the hot water and screw onto jars (make sure the jar rims are clean or they won't seal). Then put the filled jars back in the oven for another 10 minutes. Remove to tea towel and wait for the pops of the lids sealing. :)

This recipe will make about 3 jars (large pasta sauce size jars).

Mom's Freezer Pizza Sauce

It's that time of year, tomato season! I love tomatoes and nothing compares to tomatoes fresh from the garden. After numerous toasted tomatoes sandwiches, I couldn't keep up so it was time to do something with them. This year I decided I'd try making my Mom's pizza sauce. She's made this sauce or a variation of it for as long as I can remember. It's  probably more of a tomato sauce than a pizza sauce as it tends to be fairly runny, but its packed with delicious ingredients and you can freeze it!

1 ice cream pail full of tomatoes, quartered (scald & peel if you like)
1-2 large onions, chopped
1-2 peppers, green or red chopped
4 large carrots, grated
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
Optional seasonings (see below)
Boil 1 1/2 hours and then either blend with an immersion blender or let cool slightly and blend in batches.

Then add
3 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. pickling salt
3/4 tbsp. pepper
Bring to a boil and pour into margarine tubs. Makes about 5-6 tubs full. Cool and  store these in the freezer.

Optional seasonings:
1/2 hot chili pepper shredded
or
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tbsp. oregano

Spicy Orange-Ginger Chicken

Here's a sort-of Chinese recipe with a bit of a kick to it, depending on how much hot sauce you add... Feel free to adapt. It was delicious and not very hard to make at all.

1 1/4 cups orange juice
2 tsp orange zest
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons fresh ginger, shredded
6 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 tsp hot sauce
1 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 medium chicken breasts, cut into 1/4 inch strips
1 tbsp corn starch
1 tbsp water
green onions or chives, sliced
sesame seeds

In a bowl, whisk together the orange juice, zest, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, hot sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar and black pepper. Place cut up chicken in a large ziploc bag and pour in 1/3 of the marinade. Seal the bag and let marinade for 1 hour.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken (in 2 batches) in frying pan until lightly browned. Discard used marinade. Once chicken is cooked, remove from pan.

In the same frying pan add the reserved marinade and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, mix together the corn starch and water. Whisk into the marinade, making sure it doesn't clump. Let boil for a minute to thicken.

Return chicken to the pan and heat through. Serve over cooked rice. Garnish with green onions or chives and sesame seeds.

*Adapted from http://www.foolproofliving.com/spicy-orange-ginger-chicken/

Creamy Pasta Salad

So despite the cool and rainy spring we are having, which followed a horribly cold winter, I have to believe that summer is coming! I really, really hope... And summer means BBQs and a staple at summer BBQs is the pasta salad. I tried this recipe with high expectations as it was billed as "The Best Macaroni Salad Ever" and it doesn't disappoint. Enjoy!

3 cups dry pasta (shell, macaroni, etc)
2 cups mayonnaise
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
4 tsps sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup pickle juice
3 whole roasted bell peppers, chopped* (you can also use the jarred kind if you prefer)
3/4 cup dill pickles, diced
6 whole green onions, sliced

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside and let cool completely.

In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt & pepper. Add milk and pickle juice, just enough to make the dressing pourable. Add the chopped roasted peppers, pickles and green onions. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Chill dressing while macaroni cools.

Add cooled macaroni to bowl with dressing and toss. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

* To Roast Peppers: Place washed & dried whole peppers on baking sheet and broil until skin is charred. Occasionally turn peppers so all sides start turning black. Place the charred peppers in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow peppers to steam for 20 minutes. Remove from bowl and place on cutting board. Using a paring knife, peel away the skin and chop.

Adapted from The Pioneer Woman

Cheesy Shells & Broccoli

Wonderfully gooey & cheesy! Homemade mac & cheese with some broccoli to make you feel like its at least a little healthy.

8 oz shell pasta
1 large crown broccoli, cut into small florets
1/2 medium onion, finely diced
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
salt & pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add shell pasta and set a timer for 8 minutes. At that point, add the broccoli florets to the pasta and cook pasta and broccoli for 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Cook onion in butter over medium heat until onion has softened (about 2-3 minutes). Whisk in the flour to create a roux. Continue whisking the roux for about 2 minutes. Add the milk and whisk well to ensure there are no clumps. Add some pepper and bring the sauce up to a simmer.When sauce begins to thicken, its time to add the cheese. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese until smooth. Taste the cheese sauce to see if it needs some salt & pepper. You can also add some hot sauce to give it a little zip. Stir the broccoli and pasta into the cheese sauce. Voila! Dinner is served. Enjoy!

*From http://www.budgetbytes.com/2011/02/broccoli-shells-n-cheese/

Homemade Pizza

What's for dinner tonight? Homemade pizza! Can't beat it, yum! I'm always up for homemade pizza; and I'm not talking about heating up a frozen pizza either. Gotta make the crust from scratch. In summer I'll grill my pizza on the BBQ, which is amazing and I highly recommend trying that, but the rest of the time I use my pizza stone. You get such a nice crisp crust. Here's a very basic pizza crust recipe that you can make within half an hour (plus baking time).

1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
1 tsp brown sugar
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tbsps olive oil
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 450 F (see note below if using a pizza stone). In a medium bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

Stir in flour, salt and oil. You can use regular all-purpose or a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat. I have a multi-grain flour I used this time. Mix together until smooth. Let rest for 5 minutes.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a 12 inch circle. Transfer crust to greased pan or a pizza stone dusted with cornmeal. Spread crust with sauce and your desired toppings. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Note: If using a pizza stone you should either put the empty stone in the cold oven and heat it up with the oven, using a pizza peel to transfer the pizza to the hot stone. Or don't preheat the oven and instead put the assembled pizza on the cold pizza stone and put in the cold oven (start timing once oven has heated to desired temperature).

Chili Cornbread Bake

Here's a great variation on the usual chili dish. It's great because it combines the chili and a delicious cornbread, all in one dish!

Chili
1 lb ground beef
1 cup onions, chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (15 oz) can red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 pkg taco seasoning mix

Cornbread
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tbsp sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 (10 oz) can cream style corn
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. While oven is heating, brown ground beef, onion, green pepper and garlic over medium-high heat. Stir in the kidney beans, tomato sauce and taco seasoning mix. Reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, combine the creamed corn, milk and egg; beat well. Add to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.

Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Spoon 1/2 the cornbread mixture into the greased casserole; sprinkle with 1/2 the cheese. Spoon the chili mixture over the cheese; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Spoon the remaining cornbread mixture over the cheese and spread gently to cover.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes or until top is golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Chicken Tetrazzini Bake

This is a really good recipe that uses stuff that is usually in your pantry or fridge. No crazy weird ingredients that you need to go buy. And its really easy!

2 cups uncooked pasta (whatever kind you have)
1 pkg chicken bouillon
3/4 cup boiling water
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 onion, diced
1/4 tsp pepper
2 chicken breasts, cooked & cubed
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese, divided

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a bowl, dissolve bouillon in boiling water. Blend in soup and pepper. Add celery, onion and chicken to soup mixture. Stir in 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese and transfer to a greased 2 qt casserole dish. Top with the rest of the shredded cheese and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until heated through. Enjoy!

Vegetable Pot Pie

Here's a tasty veggie dish perfect for Meatless Monday! Or any day of the week...

1 tbsp vegetable oil
Seasonal vegetables, cut up (green beans, carrots, onion, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potatoes, zucchini, dill, etc)
salt & pepper to taste
1-2 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp cumin
1 cube vegetable bouillon
water to suit
2 tbsp corn starch
2 frozen pie shells (or homemade)

Heat vegetable oil in wok or frying pan. Fry vegetables, adding curry, cumin, salt & pepper. Add vegetable bouillon to boiling water. Add to vegetable mixture. Blend cornstarch with a little water to make paste and add to pan. Cook until gravy thickens and vegetables are soft.

Put vegetable mixture on first pie shell. Cover vegetables with remaining pie shell and seal edges. I made this in a 9 inch pie plate, but you can also use more pie shells and make in a larger casserole dish.

Bake for 45 minutes at 375 degrees.

Cranberry Lemon Muffins

This recipe doesn't take much time and can probably be altered with different fruit and flavorings if you wanted.

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3 tsps baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil or unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp lemon extract

1 cup cranberries (I used dried, but you could also use fresh or frozen)

1/3 cup slivered almonds

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, beat the eggs, milk, oil/applesauce and extract. Stir into dry ingredients until moistened. Fold in cranberries.

Fill paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full; sprinkle with almonds and a few cranberries. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

Makes about 16 muffins.

Sausage Tortellini Soup

I think soups are one of my favourite things to make. There are so many different kinds and they are super easy to freeze to save for another day. Here's a new one that is quite nice for a cold winter day.

1 lb Italian sausage (casing removed)
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 cup carrots, chopped
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsps fresh basil, snipped
1 lb cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup fresh Parmesan cheese

Brown Italian sausage in a large pot and break into small chunks. Drain and set aside.

In the same pot, saute the onion, carrots, garlic and basil in the oil over medium heat for a few minutes. Whisk in the tomato paste, chicken broth and water. Heat about 10 minutes on medium high heat.

Add the sausage and tortellini. Cook about 8-10 minutes until tortellini is tender. Serve with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Serves 6.

*From http://www.shugarysweets.com/2014/01/sausage-tortellini-soup

Chocolate Banana Pudding Bread

What's a good way to spend a snow day? Baking! We've got a blizzard going on and with the roads being so bad (some even closed), I decided to bake this delicious looking dessert bread I found on Pinterest awhile back.

For the banana dough:
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1 pkg banana cream pudding (just the dry mix)
1 ripe banana
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 tbsp butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup applesauce

For the chocolate dough:
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup sugar
1 pkg chocolate pudding (just the dry mix)
2 eggs, slightly beaten
6 tbsp butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup applesauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a bread pan with cooking spray.

You are going to need 2 large bowls and 2 smaller bowls. In the 2 large bowls, combine the flour, baking soda, sugar and pudding mixes for each respective dough (one for banana and one for chocolate).

In one small bowl, mash the banana, add the egg, butter, vanilla and applesauce. Then fold into the dry ingredients for the banana dough.

In the other small bowl mix the eggs, butter, vanilla and applesauce and fold into the dry ingredients for the chocolate dough.

Alternating between the banana and chocolate dough, drop by spoonful into the bread pan. You can also run a knife through the dough to give it a marbled look.

Bake for 60 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then remove and let cool completely on a wire rack.

*From http://www.wineandglue.com/2013/10/chocolate-banana-bread.html 

Turkey Pot Pie

We've been having a serious cold snap here, so I figured some warm comfort food is just the thing to warm me up from the inside. This is a delicious dish and you can use up your leftover turkey from Christmas!

2 tbsps unsalted butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, diced

3 carrots, peeled & diced

2 stalks of celery, diced

1/3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 tsp thyme

salt & pepper to taste

3 1/2 cups shredded turkey (or chicken)

1/2 cup frozen corn or peas (whatever you have on hand)

1 tube of refrigerated biscuits

Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium high heat. Add garlic, onion, carrots and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender. Stir the flour into the veggie mix until veggies are coated. Gradually stir in the chicken broth, milk and thyme. Stir constantly until thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in the chicken and corn. Season with salt & pepper.

Pour this mixture into a greased 9x13 dish and bake 15 minutes at 400F. Then lay the refrigerated biscuits on top of the chicken mixture. Bake for another 15-17 minutes until the biscuits tops are golden brown. Let sit 5 minutes and then enjoy!

**Note: I took the easy way and used refrigerated biscuits. You could also make your own biscuits from scratch. **

*Adapted from http://damndelicious.net/2013/12/23/biscuit-pot-pie/